Marvel animated shows should have learned something from X-Men '97

There's a lot to love X-Men '97. Reboots are pretty common these days, but more often than not they don't stick the landing. X-Men '97however, it does. The show expands on the original X-Men: The Animated Seriesshowing a wider universe and delving into the complex relationship between Magneto and Professor X with great dramatic moments. Now that the landscape of television has changed, the show is not limited to being purely episodic. Relationships can develop and the narrative can hint at things to come.

However, what has fans most excited is the show's gorgeous animation. X-Men '97 uses a style that draws heavily from the original series, making it look like a throwback. That said, since technology has improved since the 90s, the new show uses both 2D and 3D techniques, which give the show a much more polished look.

In contrast, other Marvel animated shows have a more uniform look. The future The eyes of Wakanda and And if… both have a very similar style. Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man it's a little more unique with its flat style and comic-inspired visuals. However, no one got as excited about the look of these shows as they were X-Men '97. While nostalgia could be argued to be a major factor, that show is still visually unique compared to Marvel's current animated lineup. Considering how many great animated shows there are, Marvel should take a cue X-Men '97 and change things up stylistically.

X-Men '97 embraces the old-school character designs

Animation, like any other medium, has its trends and styles over the decades. The 70s saw traditional animation mixed with the beginnings of realistically proportioned human characters. These cartoons had low budgets and limited animation. Like Hanna-Barbera scooby doo where are you and Jabberjaw are classic examples of this style.

The 80s saw a new push in action hero proportions with the intention of selling toys, thanks to people like He-Man and the Masters of the Universe and GI Joe. Later, the 90s saw the rise of creator-driven cartoons. These cartoons were made as a reaction to the limited animations that came before them and were more exaggerated and fluid. Rugrats and The Simpsons they are quintessential shows from this period.

Appearing in 1992, the original X-Men: The Animated Series it was a little before this change. The show had a limited budget and largely stuck to the style of its '80s predecessors. Artistic choice to mimic the style of the original series X-Men '97 it's not just to appeal to nostalgia, but also to embrace an animation style that hasn't been widely seen in decades. In addition to being inspired by the original series, the creative team also took some cues from classic anime from the 80s and 90s, such as Scroll Ninja. As a result, audiences found it refreshing in the modern landscape of animated television.

X-Men '97 embraces new techniques

That being said, the techniques involved in this style of visual animation have been updated for the ages. Instead of traditional low-budget animation, X-Men '97 it uses more advanced 2D animation and takes full advantage of its Disney-level budget. Instead of choosing to mimic the limited animation style of the original, the creative team chose to further invoke the 90s feel by using a VHS-inspired effect. (It's also a rare case where the VHS-inspired elements aren't intended to evoke fear in a horror context.) This helps to add to the illusion that it's a show from the '90s, rather than something that appeared in 2024. 3D elements were also added. for more complex models and vehicles.

Executive producer and director Jake Castorena said the creative team was very careful about how they wanted to strike the balance of evoking the old style while keeping it fresh for modern audiences. Judging by the response from fans, it looks like they succeeded in spades. The show appeals to the nostalgia of longtime fans, but it doesn't feel like a tired rehash.

Exactly like WandaVision have experimented with using different sitcom visual styles from different decades, the animation teams at Marvel should aspire to create truly unique visuals for their shows as well. X-Men '97with its retro-inspired look, it proved that audiences have an appetite for animated shows that break the norm. Other inventive performances such as Moon Girl and Devil Dinosauralso show that this is not limited to X-Men '97; it's just good animation design. Marvel has a cavalcade of classic characters, many of which have been adapted multiple times. Why not take a bold risk and mix things up with something different? A breath of fresh air could renew the interest of longtime fans and even bring new ones to the fold.